Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/436685
Isla Mujeres, Playa Mujeres, Cancun 19 One of Mexico's most beloved beach destinations, developed exclusively with tourism in mind, the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula is perhaps the best example of a crowd-pleasing destination on this side of the Americas. The sun worshipper and water lover; historian and adventurer; spa hopper and wildlife explorer; gourmand and gourmet; families with children in tow, empty nesters and couples in every stage of love…there truly is something for everyone in this slice of paradise along the Caribbean Sea. At the heart of the action lies Cancun, a seven-shaped strip of stunning resorts set on 14 miles of bright white, crushed coral beaches, and host to over 3.3 million visitors per year. Divided into the popular and lively Hotel Zone, Downtown Cancun, and the Ecological Reserve, golf, snorkeling, scuba diving, wind surfing, water skiing, sailing, deep sea fishing, and jungle tour opportunities all tempt loungers to leave the sugary sand, no matter in which region they set up their chairs. If action is what you're seeking an escape from, the "Island of Women," or Isla Mujeres, is romance at its best. Once known as a sanctuary of the Mayan goddess of love and fertility, Ixchel, here lies unspoiled beaches, quietly luxurious resorts, and lovely restaurants and bars in Playa Norte, accessible by golf carts, mopeds and bicycles. Even gentle whale sharks retreat to these calm waters during summer, joining the many visitors who take equal advantage of the deep sea fishing available here. Nearby, the tiny, motor-free Isla Holbox also provides tourists with an opportunity to swim with the world's largest shark, or mingle with flamingos—over 40,000 per between spring and fall—while Isla Contoy, inhabited only by wildlife and welcoming a mere 200 visitors per day by law, lets visitors see nature the way nature intended. ISLA MujERES/pLAYA MujERES/CANCuN Images courtesy of Cancun Tourist Board